In works of fiction, heroes and villains alike will find every advantage to winning a battle, whether it's a personal DuelToTheDeath or the ultimate FinalBattle. One of the simplest and most prevalent is based on a notion that if the enemy can't see you (or anything), they can't hit you: shining a super bright light source directly into the face of your enemies. This will work to varying degrees depending on the work, from completely blinding and incapacitating your foe to causing just a momentary inconvenience.

Depending on the work, the light source could be any number of things. For example, in {{Fantasy}} works it's likely [[FantasticLightSource some sort of magic had a hand in it]], while in ScienceFiction it is more likely to find flashbang grenades or devices specifically designed for this sort of thing. The sun and its reflections are also widely used. A popular sword-fighting variant involves tilting a blade so it reflects the sun's light into your opponent's eyes.

If some characters have been in the dark for a while, this can occur with much weaker lights than normal, while leaving other characters unaffected, since DayHurtsDarkAdjustedEyes.

An example of TruthInTelevision, since the use of flashbang grenades is highly prevalent in modern police forces and armies have been using natural light in various ways to blind and hinder their enemies for centuries[[note]]The modern flashbang emits approximately two million candlepower when it goes off. By comparison, a 25 watt light bulb emits 1700. This is exactly as devastating to your eyes as it sounds[[/note]].

Compare: AHandfulForAnEye, StepIntoTheBlindingFight, TapOnTheHead, DeerInTheHeadlights, InescapableNet, StunGuns, WeakenedByTheLight, InstantSedation, and SubTrope BlindingCameraFlash. Has nothing to do with the battle theme for ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII''.

Not to be confused with the 1976 Music/BruceSpringsteen[=/=][[CoveredUp Manfred Mann's Earth Band]] song.

----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]* At the beginning of ''Manga/SaintSeiya'''s "Asgard Saga," the God Warrior Syd of Mizar Zeta makes a very effective point to Shun about "attacking in the direction of the Sun" by leaping above him and using the bright midday Sun to blind the Andromeda Saint.* In ''Manga/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'', attacking from above and using the Sun's glare to hide his position from aircraft turrets is Prince Asbel's favored strafing tactic.* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Homura's extensive arsenal includes flashbangs.* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''** [[WarriorPrince Ling Yao]] uses a flash grenade while fighting Wrath to blind his one working eye. Too bad about the ''[[RedRightHand other]]'' one though. [[spoiler:This is later Wrath's undoing. While fighting Scar, Wrath is temporarily blinded by the sun emerging from the solar eclipse, long enough for Scar to rip his arms off.]]** Fu also uses a flash grenade to [[spoiler:temporarily stun Pride. He had been helpless in the dark until the villagers turned the lights back on, but with the extra light from the flash grenade he can't use his shadows either.]]* ''Manga/OnePiece''** Parodied during the Skypiea Arc. Zoro found himself in a swords vs. guns battle with Braham, who used pistols that were equipped with Flash Dials as to blind the opponent anytime he shot at them. Zoro realized he can combat this with his goggles, but unfortunately, TheGogglesDoNothing since they're not tinted at all.** The Flash Dial comes back during Luffy's fight with Usopp, which he uses after making Luffy hesitate with a cough of fake blood.* ''Anime/SkyGirls'':** During the first episode, AcePilot Eika got defeated by a new, Sonic Diver-piloting test pilot when her target [[TransformingMecha transformed]] and attacked from the direction of the sun. Granted, she is using a conventional fighter jet at the time and her opponent is ''very'' nimble.** In a true show of piloting ability, Eika used the exact same tactic combined with careful maneuvering against a TeenGenius who very nearly beat her through sheer talent later in the series.* The characters on ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' sometimes use this, calling it "Solar Flare."[[note]]In the original Japanese, "taiyo-ken", meaning "fist of the sun".[[/note]] Notably, this is one of the most useful techniques in the series, as even enemies leagues more powerful than the user are vulnerable to it.** In ''Manga/DragonBall'', Krillin does this by accident when fighting Goku in a tournament and his [[BaldOfAwesome bald head]] reflects light into Goku's eyes.** ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' lampshades their tendency to simply use the ability to run away when Gohan asks Krillin why he doesn't use the opportunity to cut their opponent in half with his Destructo-Disc.** ''Dragon Ball Z Abridged'' also has a RunningGag of a FreezeFrameBonus of BrainBleach every time someone uses it.** In ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'', Future Mai once saved Future Trunks' life by blinding Goku Black with a flashbang just as Black was about to kill Trunks.* Agito of the ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' franchise has the Starengeheul ("Starling's Howl") spell, where she uses her fire magic to create a flashbang effect. She first uses it in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'', warning Lutecia to close her eyes before she fires it off.* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', Lucy, Happy, and Loke fight Bickslow, who forces them to keep their eyes closed because he can control anyone who looks into his eyes. Loke gets an idea and flares up his BattleAura, which is so bright that Bickslow screams and clutches his eyes in pain. Lucy then uses the opportunity to attack him.* ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'' has Fuu using two fireworks to blind and confuse the guards at the execution grounds, allowing Mugen and Jin to escape.* Some ninja in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', like C of Hidden Cloud and Fuu of Hidden Waterfall, have abilities that function like this. * ''Anime/LupinIIIIslandOfAssassins'' has Lupin using a flashbomb to escape Zenigata and his cops. * ''Manga/{{Golgo 13}}''** Duke Togo has to escape from TheAlcatraz they've thrown him into by climbing up a drainpipe swept by searchlights. He times his climb so he'll be in the swept area at the moment when two searchlights cross over each other, blinding the guards with the combined reflection from the wall.** Duke is hired to PopTheTires of a vehicle at a desert car rally. It turns out to be a trap with Duke being targeted by mercenaries armed with advanced assault rifles. The duel lasts past nightfall and the mercenaries think they have the advantage thanks to their thermal sights, but Duke works himself into a position where an oncoming rally car's headlights shine into the sight, blinding the firer so Duke can kill him.* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', the Dom mobile suit has a small beam cannon on its chest. It's not really powerful enough to do any real harm to enemy mobile suits, so it mainly gets used as a flash-bang.* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory'' has Kou blind Gato by firing his maneuvering thrusters in Gato's face. He then takes advantage of this moment to deal a fatal blow to Gato's mobile suit (Gato himself survives unharmed, and manages to deal a fatal blow to Kou's suit in return).* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE'', the AGE-2 Dark Hound has a floodlight mounted in its chest for precisely this reason. And Captain Ash is a pragmatic enough fighter that he ''will'' take advantage of his enemy's vulnerability and take them down.* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl''. Marco finds himself facing a Padania terrorist holding his ex-girlfriend as a HumanShield, knowing that Marco's damaged eye will prevent him risking a shot. His cyborg Angelica blinds the terrorist with a [[GunAccessories torch attached to her handgun]], providing a distraction so the hostage can break free.* ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom'': During the battle in the concert hall, Gastro cranks up the stage lights behind him so that the kids can't aim their guns at him properly.* In ''Manga/ShinkaigyoNoAnkoSan'', the main character Anko is an AlluringAnglerFish whose lure can light up. She regularly cranks it up a few notches to blind annoying or threatening people, like her friend Wakasa in one of her grabby moods.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Card Games]]* In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', this is often used by users of WhiteMagic, specially [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=205219 these]] [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=83007 two]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]* The Ted Kord version of the ''Comicbook/BlueBeetle'' carries a strobe light weapon that temporarily blinds his victims. It was later modified to also emit a powerful compressed air blast that knocks over anybody it hits.* ''ComicBook/{{Cavewoman}}'': In ''River Styx'', Meriem uses the flash on a photographer's camera to blind a cave-swelling KillerGorilla whose eyes are adapted to functioning in very low levels of light.* In the Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse comics, the Fourth Doctor once [[MacGyvering built a "fizgig"]], which projected "ultra-white light."* In one of the Polish ''Gods from Outer Space'' comics, Ais turns on her helmet light during a GunpointBanter scene.* One issue of ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'' has him narrate how devastating a single flashbang grenade is to the senses. The next panel shows him dropping three at once through a skylight on some mobsters.* In ''ComicBook/{{Robin}} Annual'' #6, Robin and his allies are forced into a showdown with a gang of bikers, with them facing the rising sun so it is in their eyes. They manage to turn the tables on their attackers by hiding mirrors under their ponchos. At the crucial moment, they throw back their ponchos and reflect the sunlight back in the eyes of their attackers, allowing them to regain the initative.* In ''ComicBook/RobynHood:I Love NY'' #3, Robyn is blinded and deafened by a flashbang, which leads to her committing SelfOffense on Agent Red.* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':** ''ComicBook/XWingSeries'': In ''The Phantom Affair'', a gang of pro-Imperial thugs attacks Rogue Squadron pilot Tycho Celchu. He beats most of them down by himself, but the last one gets the drop on him and is preparing to deliver the final (possibly fatal) blow, when he's [[EyeScream slashed through the eyes]] by a phantom Jedi's lightsaber, causing instant blindness and much pained yelling. It turns out later that the "Jedi" is just a hologram, and given that holograms are actually just light (lasers, to be specific), this trope stands.* Harley Quinn does this to Deadshot in ''Comicbook/SuicideSquad'' #7. Harley kills the lights, knowing that Deadshot will switch to infra-red. As soon as he does so, she sets off a magnesium flare.* ''ComicBook/{{Superlopez}}'': An early VillainOfTheWeek blinded Superlópez with the light of a lantern reflected off his shiny bald head.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]* In ''FanFic/{{Whispers}}'', Celestia incapacitates Nightmare Moon by blinding her with the sun.* Amaya's White Star jutsu in ''Fanfic/WhiteRain''.* ''FanFic/FaithAndDoubt'' features Celestia getting hit by Twilight's light-and-sound spell. It was specifically engineered by her because, while an alicorn like Celestia resists direct magic attacks, secondary effects like the sensory overload from a blinding flash are a whole different dancing tune.* Vesta uses this in ''Fanfic/GameTheoryFanFic'' as an application of her [[MasterOfIllusion illusion magic]].* In ''Fanfic/KitsuneNoKenFistOfTheFox'', during his fight with Naruto and Roshi, Deidara uses flash-bang grenades that have this effect.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'': Tintin [[ImprobableAimingSkills shoots a lever on a searchlight]], knocking it around so it shines in the eyes of the thugs that are chasing him.* In ''WesternAnimation/BarbieMariposa'', the Skeezites can't invade Flutterfield because they can't stand Marabella's lights.* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'', this is used for comical effect as a background character's reaction to King Neptune's baldness (which is apparently so severe that his scalp's as bright as a spotlight).-->'''Citizens:''' Bald! Bald! Bald! Bald!\\'''Fred:''' '''MY EYES!!!'''* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie'': Hot Rod shines his headlights into Galvatron's optics during their battle (in a dark room), and Galvatron's flinch gives Hot Rod a couple free shots at him.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]* Averted in ''Film/AndStarringPanchoVillaAsHimself'', in which General Pancho Villa has [[WarForFunAndProfit made a deal with Hollywood allowing them to film his battles]]. When attacking the fortress at Torreon, Villa originally intends to attack with the sun behind his troops, so the Federal defenders will be firing into the rising sun. But the primitive cameras of the day need more light, so his troops charge towards the sun and get massacred by the Federals who can see them clearly. * In ''Film/BatmanBegins'', Henri Ducard shows Bruce Wayne how to use a pinch of gunpowder to achieve this effect.* The aliens in ''Film/{{Battleship}}'' have a really low tolerance for light. A random crewmember figures it out by studying the eyes of a captive alien and pointing out that they look similar to his pet lizard's, who never likes bright lights. This is used to destroy an alien ship, when Alex and Nagata break open the window on its bridge with high-power sniper rifles. The aliens on the bridge are blinded by the rising sun for a few seconds, until their nictitating membrane closes to filter out the light. Enough time for the USS ''John Paul Jones'' to deliver a deadly barrage at point-blank range (for a warship).* In ''Film/DarkWolf'', two people manage to escape the werewolf by blinding it with camera flashes.* ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'' has [[TheHero Vasili]] pinned down behind a piece of rubble by a German sniper. His LoveInterest uses a mirror shard to reflect sunlight right into the German's scope, making him flinch just long enough for Vasili to take a snap-shot at him and get away.* In ''Film/GameOfDeath'', the enemy played by Kareem Abdul Jabaar has light-sensitive eyes. Bruce Lee gains the advantage by breaking holes in the walls to let the light in.* ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}''. During the golf game, James Bond tosses a gold bar onto the grass just as Goldfinger is about to make his shot. The light reflecting off the bar (and the distracting sight of all that gold) causes Goldfinger to miss.* ''Film/{{Hook}}'': The Lost Boys have one set of weapons that use mirrors to blind the pirates during the FinalBattle.* In ''Film/TheHungerGamesMockingjayPart1'', [[spoiler:during the raid on the Tribute Tower, the lights suddenly come back on, blinding the team and alerting the audience that something is horribly wrong]].* ''Film/IronMan''. When Iron Man is being crushed by Iron Monger, Tony lets off all his flares because he doesn't have anything else. It works enough to make Iron Monger let go because its pilot is momentarily dazzled.* ''Film/JackReacher''. Reacher knows the villains have a master sniper working for them. He brings his own marksman, ex-marine 'Gunny' Cash, who says the sniper will be hiding behind one of the construction lights surrounding the quarry (Reacher notices Gunny has one eye closed, which Gunny explains is to preserve his night vision). Reacher asks if Gunny can't shoot out the lights, but that would only expose his position before all the lights were knocked out.* ''Film/JasonBourne'' averts an assassination by turning a spotlight to where the sniper is hiding, causing him to miss his shot.* In ''Film/{{Jumanji}}'', Judy blinds Van Pelt with a price scanner.* ''Film/KickAss''. During a DarkenedBuildingShootout, TheMafia mooks start a fire so they can see Hit Girl who's shooting at them with the aid of night vision goggles. She sets the flashlight on her pistol on strobe to blind them, then uses it as a distraction by removing it from her pistol and leaving it on a shelf. The remaining mooks all fire at the flashing light, failing to realise that Hit Girl is coming up behind them.* In ''Film/AKidInKingArthursCourt'', Calvin opens his CD player and shines the laser into a bad guy's eyes.* Used a few times in ''Film/TheLastWitchHunter'':** When Belial attempts to kidnap Chloe, he starts with overloading lights in her house and she covers her face when they suddenly flash light way more powerful than moments before.** During his final fight with Witch Queen, Kaulder uses some improvised flash grenades several times to knock the witch off-balance, bliding her for a moment every time.* During the final duel in the first ''Manga/LoneWolfAndCub'' film, Ogami faces off against his enemy in a seemingly fair fight. At the climatic moment, however, he bends down, revealing Daigoro on his back - wearing a plate on his forehead that reflects the sunlight straight into the foe's eyes.* In the 1981 film ''Film/{{Looker}}'', a strobe light weapon doesn't blind its victims, but rather hypnotizes them which causes them to lose all sense of time.* ''Film/LordOfTheRings'': This happens to the Uruk-hai at the end of the Battle of Helms Deep when the sun rises behind the charging [[TheCavalry cavalry.]]* ''Film/NowYouSeeMe2'': Atlas uses a camera flash to blind a technician in the server room during the Octa job. Later, the crew shine lights in Tressler's eyes to prevent him from getting a good look at the inside of the hangar. * ''Film/TheOutlawJoseyWales''. Use of this trope is lampshaded when Josey Wales attacks some outlaws, riding at them from the direction of the sun.* At the end of ''Film/RearWindow'', the protagonist keeps the killer at bay shooting off a series of flashbulbs, momentarily stopping him blind. This allows just enough time for the police to show up within earshot.* A flash bomb is used in ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' to blind the Operative and escape.-->'''Inara:''' [[PreAsskickingOneLiner And that's not incense.]]* ''Solomon and Sheba'' (1959). Solomon's tiny army is being charged by the Egyptians. He uses their polished shields to reflect the rising sun in the eyes of the charioteers, so they don't realise Solomon's men are standing before a chasm and plunge right in.* ''Film/{{Westworld}}''. The implacable robot gunslinger stalking Peter Martin has infra-red vision, so Peter hides behind the HollywoodTorches in Medieval World.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* Carver of ''Literature/TheAccidentMan'', uses a green laser "dazzler" to blind [[RippedFromTheHeadlines the driver of the former princess's limo]] to cause it to crash.* In ''Literature/AlasBabylon'', Peyton is temporarily blinded due to looking directly at the nuclear explosion that destroys Tampa.* ''Literature/AlexRider'': In ''Ark Angel'', Alex blinds TheDragon Kaspar by opening the window shutter on the sun-side of the space station as Kaspar is facing the window.* In Creator/DevonMonk's ''Literature/MagicToTheBone'', Allie uses this on a would-be kidnapper: a two-second flash, too simple and childish to be expected.* The protagonist of Barbara Kingsolver's ''Animal Dreams'' is haunted by a recurring vague nightmare about a blinding flash of light, accompanied by a "[[HellIsThatNoise shattering pop]]." [[spoiler:It turns out to be her [[NoInfantileAmnesia neonatal memory]] of a camera flashbulb.]]* ''Literature/TheBlackMagicianTrilogy'': Sonea pulls this off when being harassed by other apprentices at night. She doesn't want to fight back, because she's [[ComesGreatResponsibility much more powerful and could hurt or kill them]]. Instead, she turns off her magical light for a few moments, so their eyes adjust to the darkness, then turns the light UpToEleven. Her assailants end up temporarily blinded.* Heleth in ''Literature/TheColSecTrilogy'' has [[InnateNightVision superhuman night vision]], but is [[DayHurtsDarkAdjustedEyes photophobic]] as a [[BlessedWithSuck trade-off]]. In the third book, a particularly bright light not only temporarily blinds her, but [[UpToEleven actually causes her to faint from pain]].* In Creator/RobertEHoward's ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' story "Literature/AWitchShallBeBorn", Salome uses light to blind Tamaris's rescuers.* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': In ''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'', Vimes' coach is accosted in a mountain pass where the sun has already gone down. Vimes gets out to talk to the robbers and takes the time to light his cigar. When "dark clerk" Inigo Skimmer chides him later for the grandstanding, Vimes' reply is "you mean when I closed my eyes and they had to look at a bright flame in the darkness?" In other words he destroyed their night vision, making them unable to see the crossbow-spring he used to kill the leader.* Averted in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''. While it's the first instinct of most wizards to call up light in the dark, not only does it not blind badass enemies, but it lights ''the wizard'' up as a target.* ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'': Kerowyn, the heroine of ''By The Sword'', uses the combination of highly polished armour, mirrors, and some minor magic to amplify reflected light, to storm a Karsite position with few casualties. This is particularly psychologically damaging to the Karsite soldiers as they worship a Sun God.* In the final book of the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'', Inheritance, during Eragon's sparring match training against Arya, Eragon gets the idea to distract Arya during the pre-duel positioning so that she focuses on him, and doesn't notice he's putting his back to the sun. It works well enough to get in a first attack, but then Arya holds him off long enough to regain her vision, and she starts to win the spar.* Creator/TomClancy uses this in a number of his Literature/JackRyan books. In addition to the standard flashbangs, ''Debt of Honor'' features a high-intensity blinding light weapon, stated to be a nonlethal weapon. It is indeed nonlethal, if horribly effective, when used on a mook. Then it's used on the pilots of enemy aircraft as they're attempting to land their planes.* In John Gardner's ''Literature/JamesBond'' novels, one of the modifications fitted to Bond's car is a high-intensity halogen flashbulb replacing the bulb that illuminates the number plate. This is used to blind pursuers.* In the first book of ''Literature/TheLegendOfDrizzt'', Drizzt floods the room with light to escape from his family (who are now trying to kill him). Being creatures who live their whole lives in the dark underground, the light is not only blinding, but painful as well.* In the first ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' book, one of Cluny the Scourge's first mistakes when trying to take Redwall Abbey is to pepper the defenders on the walls ''sunward'', meaning that his bowbeasts can barely even aim where they're firing, all while the Redwallers return fire unhindered.* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. During a TrialByCombat, Ser Gregor Clegane stands with his back to the sun to blind his opponent, the Dornish prince Oberyn Martell. Martell turns this against him by using a metal disc on his helmet to reflect the sun back into Gregor's vision slit.* Subverted in James Follett's ''The Tiptoe Boys'' (later filmed as ''Who Dares Wins''). The SAS soldiers rescuing their comrade's family ''can't'' use flashbangs because it will cause permanent neurological damage to the hero's infant daughter. They settle for [[spoiler:making a "fucking great hole" in the wall so that each terrorist can be engaged by one commando. In the book, they take bricks out and leave only the wallpaper; in the film, they use detcord to cut their way through. It works.]]* In ''Literature/WingsOfFire'', Tsunami often uses her bioluminescent scales to this effect. It is especially effective because, even though all of the [=SeaWing=] tribe has scales that work like that, they don't use it to blind opponents. Tsunami was raised separately from her tribe so she ends up being a very unorthodox fighter.* ''Requiem for an Assassin'' by Barry Eisler. Literature/JohnRain uses a high-lumen flashlight to blind a cyclist riding at night in the rain so he'll slam on the brakes, skid and fall off his bicycle. Rain then snaps his neck, [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident making it look like the cyclist died in a freak accident]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]* ''Series/AgentCarter''. Peggy Carter puts on welding goggles, then uses some kind of spy gadget to blind a corrupt Roxxon employee with a gun.* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. Buffy [[ContrivedCoincidence just happens to be armed with]] a FlarePistol when up against Initiative commandos wearing NightVisionGoggles in a dark corridor.* Done at least twice by Team Westen on ''Series/BurnNotice'', the first time with a homemade flashbang, and the second time with a car's hi-beams.* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS1E2TheDaleks "The Daleks"]], the Thals baffle the Daleks' cameras with handheld mirrors.* ''Series/{{Highlander}}: The Series'' had a rogue Watcher who killed other immortals in complete darkness with night vision glasses. Duncan got the edge on him by blinding him with light from a match or lighter or something similar.* ''Series/HomeImprovement'' Tim manages to rig an obscenely bright snowman decoration during the Christmas season it's so bright they need to put on goggles and Tim advises his family not to look directly at it.* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': In "Sightings", this is one of two methods the UFO has of rendering people helpless.* ''Series/LifeOnMars2006''. Time-traveling cop Sam Tyler embarrasses himself telling a witness that he'll be behind one-way glass when identifying some bank robbers. As he's in TheSeventies, we GilliganCut to the witness facing the [[DeathGlare Death Glaring]] suspects in the middle of the canteen. Naturally he balks at making the identification. At the end of the episode, Tyler rigs up some floodlights so the criminals can't see who is identifying them. However as the witness now has more confidence in the detectives after they saved him from a murder attempt, he steps boldly into the light to identify the robbers.* ''Series/MurdochMysteries'': In "Convalescence", a weakened Murdoch turns the tables on his attacker by slipping his experimental night-vision goggles on her head. Designed to work in near darkness, they amplify the normal light in the room to the point where she is blinded.* ''Series/PersonOfInterest''. In "Liberty", Reese uses a foil wrapping to reflect sunlight in a sniper's face so Shaw can sneak up and clobber him. In "The Devil's Share" he shoots a pile of flares he's left in a corridor to blind a SWAT-team with night-vision goggles.* In an episode of ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'', John is trapped in a lab room. A hugely bright light is shined in his eyes for about half a minute, with his attempts to get away from it useless, and then, when the lights go almost completely dark, the afterimage of the light prevents him from seeing anything. Which is a problem when [[spoiler:the demon hound is apparently in the room with him, about to attack.]]* In ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'', Crixus reflects sunlight with his helmet into Theokoles' eyes, allowing Spartacus to get close enough to kill him. As Theokoles was an albino, his eyes were especially sensitive to light.* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''** In "Live Fast and Prosper" the ''Voyager'' crew comes up against a group of con artists who have been impersonating Janeway, Chakotay and Tuvok. Tuvok eventually comes face-to-face to with the man who is impersonating him and the con remains in-character, commenting that "Logic would indictate that neither of us has the advantage." Tuvok responds "Your logic is flawed," and shines a flashlight in his eyes, then stuns him with a phaser.** In "Displaced" Voyager has been seized by aliens who are sensitive to light. They've dimmed the ship lights, so Chakotay turns them up to full brightness.* ''Series/TheProfessionals''.** In "Servant with Two Masters", a man is sitting at a desk pointing a gun at Bodie and Doyle. Doyle shoves the desklamp so it shines into the man's face causing him to flinch, whereupon Bodie snatches the gun off him.** In "Hunter/Hunted", Cowley is testing a LaserSight during a training exercise. He shines it into the eyes of a trainee causing him to become disoriented and fall from the roof into a conveniently placed pool of water. Hopefully he didn't suffer any eye damage either![[/folder]]

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]* There was a biblical battle that took place and overall the terrain was consistent no matter which direction you would attack from. So the attacker came around dawn from the east so the sun would be at his men's back and in the eyes of the enemy. This is actually a very valid tactic: if you can use it do so.* In ''Literature/TheBible'', when Jesus confronts Paul for the treatment of His followers, He approaches him in a beam of light, knocking him off of his horse. This trope ends up becoming a literal example as Paul temporarily becomes blind.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':** The game features a variety of spells that use light to blind and/or incapacitate an enemy.** Certain races, particularly subterranean ones such as drow, have a light blindness trait that penalizes them for being outside in daylight.** {{Defied|Trope}} by the sunmaster, a PrestigeClass from the 3.5E supplement ''[[TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms Lost Empires of Faerûn]]''. The class feature for 2nd level grants immunity to blindness or dazing due to light effects, in addition to a few other powers.* In ''TabletopGame/PsionicsTheNextStageInHumanEvolution'' getting hit with a flashbang grenade grants severe penalties to checks, tests, and defense, as it both deafens and blinds the target.* Various spells in ''TabletopGame/FateOfTheNornsRagnarok'' can blind friend and/or foe. Some immortal warriors can notably create giant pillars of fire, dropping from the skies, burning and blinding their opponents.* ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' sports the Dazzle power which can do this for any sense.* Similarly, the ''TabletopGame/HeroSystem'' Flash power can temporarily blind any sense. The player is encouraged to define the particular mechanism (a target might be blinded with bright light, tear-inducing chemicals, or [[AHandfulForAnEye a direct hit to the eyes with an irritant]]; an attack on the sense of smell might be a pungent StinkBomb or a nose-numbing vapor; etc).* ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'': Anyone looking at a flash-pak grenade when it's active gets an eyeful of bright, randomly strobing light for a few seconds.* In the ''Franchise/BattleTechExpandedUniverse'', the Particle Projector Cannon is noted as firing a blinding [[LightningGun lightning-like]] particle beam that can disrupt sensors. However, combat vehicle viewscreens can filter out the light. In the second ''Saga of the Gray Death Legion'' novel, Grayson Carlyle pilots a PPC-toting "Marauder" HumongousMecha with a blown canopy inside an abandoned factory. He alternates between eyes to avoid being completely blinded as he fires the [=PPCs=], and by the end of the fight suffers from facial burns and corneal damage.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theme Parks]]* In the old ''Ride/{{Kongfrontation}}'' ride at [[Ride/UniversalStudios Universal Studios Florida]], there was a more accidental-instance of this in a scene where the tram's guide would be unable to see due to a light coming from a chopper, incidentally leading the tram right back to King Kong in the process.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* Next to the usual flashbang grenades, ''VideoGame/RainbowSixSiege'' features a GSG-9 operator that's equipped with a ballistic shield embedded with ''three rows of flashbangs'', which enables the trooper to blind anyone who gets in front of his shield's periphery. Appropriately, his beta badge shows a UsefulNotes/{{Medusa}} and his callsign is "Blitz", German for lightning.* In ''VideoGame/{{Vindictus}}'', the secondary weapon Light of Palala is a flash grenade which stuns most enemies for a few seconds, looking confused.* Some [[HumongousMecha battlemechs]] in ''[[Videogame/MechWarrior Mechwarrior Living Legends]]'' mount large spotlights on their shoulders, which can be used to blind players using the nightvision overlay when it's dark. When a destroyed mech [[GoingCritical goes nuclear]], it sets off a huge, blinding mushroom butt which can be used for storming an enemy position if carefully timed. [[LightningGun Particle Projector Cannons]] at night are blindingly bright, and have an EMP effect that temporarily disables the nightvision of whatever it hits.* ''VideoGame/AlanWake'': The game's combat system is based entirely around using light (from flashlights, flares, flashbang grenades, etc.) to damage or render vulnerable the various enemies. Also, some [[NonPlayerCharacter NPCs]] react to the player shining a light in their face by shielding their eyes.* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'': Most iterations of the series features grenades that can blind your enemies (or yourself if carelessly used).* ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic'': Most iterations of the series have a spell called "Blind" that effectively works this way.* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'': Luigi must use his flashlight to shock ghosts so that he may inhale them into his vacuum.* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'': Well, it is based on TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons, after all...* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'': [[PlayerCharacter PCs]] and [[BigBad bosses]] have abilities that can use light to completely incapacitate or at least hinder accuracy. A recurring element with bosses is the need to turn characters so they're facing away from the boss to avoid being blinded by the flash.* ''VideoGame/GodOfWarSeries'':** Perseus in ''VideoGame/GodOfWarII'' uses his reflective shield to blind Kratos several times in his boss battle.** Aside from using it as a makeshift flashlight, Kratos can put Helios's severed head in ''VideoGame/GodOfWarIII'' to great use by blinding enemies with it. In fact, employing this strategy is how you're supposed to defeat [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever Kronos the Titan.]]* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', flashbang stun grenades are Kasumi's special power, unlocked once her loyalty mission is completed. With advanced training, Shepard can use these grenades as well. Donovan Hock's mercenary guards and the Shadow Broker's troops also make regular use of flashbangs. As a successful flashbang can not only stun you but also knock you out of cover, these minions can easily enter DemonicSpider territory.* This is the basis behind the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' move Flash, which can be used in battle to drop the opponent's accuracy one stage. Of course, that doesn't mean it is used very often, what with several other moves being able to do this with more success, and the relatively low benefit reducing accuracy has in the game.* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', Edgar Figaro can wield the Tool "Flash," a camera with a ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin flashbulb]]'' as big as he is. It deals unblockable, defense-ignoring non-elemental damage and inflicts the Blind status effect on enemies.* ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore 4'' and ''4 Answer'' gives you the 09-FLICKER Flash Rockets. These literally are flashbang in rocket form and having it set off anywhere near you means that you lose lock-on capability for some time. Very bad against close-range combatants like Anjou/Ange, and especially [[ThatOneBoss Shinkai]]. Getting hit by an Assault Armor in 4A will also produce this effect.* Happens briefly early in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'', when your character leaves his underground vault for the first time.** Subverted if you nuke Megaton; the player and other characters observing the explosion, since they didn't have eye protection, should have been permanently blinded, or worse, had their eyes melted out of their sockets.** It only happens once in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', when you first properly activate the Helios One facility, you get blinded for just one second.* ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'': The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Blinding Flash]] spell in the final trilogy. Simple and very effective throughout the early through middle parts of the games.* Flashbang grenades are, appropriately enough, a common tool in your arsenal in ''{{VideoGame/SWAT 3}}'' and ''{{VideoGame/SWAT 4}}''. Just make sure you're out of the doorway when you use one and that your NPC teammates don't, y'know, [[ArtificialStupidity just drop it at their fee]]--GAH! [[WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment YOU FOOL]]!* ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield 3}}'' features the tactical flashlight and laser sight. The latter is a red laser that is primarily used to boost the effectiveness of hip fire, but also causes an annoying red spotlight to cover the target's vision if it is aimed at them. The former, on the other hand, is purely used for blinding foes. [[AbsurdlyBrightLight By blinding foes, I mean melting the eyes of the person controlling the target to a molten liquid and setting their hair alight.]]* In ''VideoGame/TheDarkness'', Jackie can't effectively use his powers in well-lit areas. A DirtyCop figures out Jackie is vulnerable to bright lights and uses a combination of flashbang grenades and floodlights to incapacitate him.** Used against you quite a bit in ''VideoGame/TheDarkness 2''. You'll often have one of these thrown in to strip you of all your powers and then a follow up barrage of bullets just to ruin your day.* A staple of ''Franchise/JamesBond'' games, most notably ''VideoGame/{{Nightfire}}'' and ''VideoGame/EverythingOrNothing''. ''Nightfire's'' flashbangs were a double-edged sword: if you didn't turn around, the screen would flood with white and obscure enemy fire.* In the arcade game ''Roc 'n' Rope'', the Climber's head-lamp worked like a camera flash.* In ''VideoGame/Metro2033'', this is a gameplay mechanic essential to beat the [[EliteMook Plated Nosalises]]. Since they dwell on the least-lit parts of the Metro, shining the beam of your flashlight on them blinds them and makes them stand still long enough for you to get a few shots off. And [[MadeOfIron you will need those few seconds of advantage]].* Flashbombs are a useful tool in ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'', where they can temporarily blind an enemy who has noticed you, enabling you to make a getaway. Repeated use of flashbombs can also kill undead.* ''VideoGame/AdventureQuest'' uses a variety of different uses of this trope for inflicting [[StandardStatusEffects Blind]]. The late-game Ultraviolent Light spell takes this UpToEleven, however. It's not ONLY a large, magical ball of light that works like a flashbomb-- it absorbs ALL the light in the area (blacking out the rest of the screen), and THEN explodes violently (covering the entire screen in light). It's little wonder that it's both rather lethal and has the tendency to blind most foes for a very long period of time (unlike most Blind effects in the game, which operate on a turn-based timer, UL's status works until the victim pulls off a successful save roll) It's also an [[InvertedTrope inversion]], too, as the darkness-based hit can inflict Blind even if the explosion itself misses (the save roll is weaker than a normal save roll if only one attack hits, but [[DayHurtsDarkAdjustedEyes if both connect the save roll is tougher than usual]]).* ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'' has the Flash Bang by name, a dazing and blinding grenade that allows a form of non-smoke SmokeOut for Ninja Spies.* Weaponized as a secondary function Spark Manbow in ''VideoGame/Rockman4MinusInfinity''. If you hold up when you press the fire button, Mega Man holds up a lightbulb and causes a bright flash of light to cover the screen, which makes enemies stand still for a few seconds.* The opening cinematic of ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn]]'' has Michiah using her [[LightEmUp Light Magic]] to blind a group of Begnion soldiers trying to arrest her and Sothe.* In ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' the SWAT teams use Flash-bangs against Neo and the other rebels to try to temporarily blind, disorient and confused them. Thus one of the in-universe reasons for CoolShades.* In the second level of ''VideoGame/SplinterCellPandoraTomorrow'', there's a courtyard overseen by a guard with night-vision goggles, so to avoid being seen, you have to ''[[ViolationOfCommonSense be illuminated by the searchlights]]''. The penultimate mission has periodic lightning flashes outdoors that temporarily blind Sam if his goggles are equipped.* [[JackOfAllStats Excalibur]] in ''Videogame/{{Warframe}}'' has a skill in which he unleashes a blast of light from his [[LaserBlade Exalted Blade]] that blinds enemies around them, stunning them and making them vulnerable to Finishers.* [[BadassNormal Stryker]] uses this to initialize his X-Ray attack in ''{{Mortal Kombat 9}}''. Prior to initiating a beatdown with other standard-issue police weapons, Stryker forces his opponent to their knees by blinding them with a flashlight. Notably, this attack works on everyone, including supernatural demons, the already blind, and [[ArsonMurderandJaywalking people wearing sunglasses]].* The flashlight in ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight'' is used exclusively to blind the killer when pointed at his face. The hunter gets a pure white screen with only the {{HUD}} visible.* ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' and ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' have flashbang grenades available from the early game onwards. In both games being hit by a flashbang dramatically reduces the target's aim and mobility for a few turns. In ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' being disoriented by a flashbang also disables most special abilities such as a Sectoid's Mindspin.* One of the Zora Stone Monuments in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' talks of "The Miracle of the White Scale", where a former king was saved from a lethal blow in combat when his enemy was blinded by the sunlight reflecting off of a scale that his wife had woven into to his armor. It then became tradition for Zora princesses to craft armor for their intended husbands in honor of this event.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]* ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'': Someone tries to use this against Bob. Alas for him, Bob is wearing sunglasses.* ''Webcomic/TheBeastLegion'': Brilight uses this particular trick twice in Issue 4 against Dragos [[http://www.thebeastlegion.com/issue-04-page-33-fall-of-the-goliath/]] , [[http://www.thebeastlegion.com/issue04p51-the-slip/]]* In ''Webcomic/{{Far from Home|MightyMartianStudios}}'', pirates use high-intensity flares in missiles so as to take the heroes alive.* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', the skin of [[OurVampiresAreDifferent rainbow drinkers]] brightly glow, and can turn this effect on and off. In one of the ''Webcomic/ParadoxSpace'' spin-offs, [[spoiler:Kanaya]] suddenly does so in order to [[MundaneUtility escape an awkward conversation]].-->[[SuddenlyShouting FLASHBANG]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* ''Literature/{{Domina}}'':** The vampires in this web-novel have eyes that can [[InnateNightVision see perfectly in the dark]], but are blinded by light. Vampires can operate during the day even without the big bulky goggles they normally wear, but they get headaches and they can't really see. Sudden flashes of bright light (such as an angel's [[LightEmUp daybreak]]) can actually knock them unconscious.** Inverted, actually, with the angels. They can see perfectly in bright light, to the point that they tend to stare directly at the sun when bored. However, they have basically zero ability to see in the dark, so they have to carry around nightvision goggles to even see in the shadows on a sunny day. Of course, they have the ability to emit bright light, so it's not really a big deal as long as they don't have to worry about blinding anyone.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* In ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'', Zartan hates sunlight, although just how much it pains him seems to be DependingOnTheWriter. * In the ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' short "Mabel's Guide to Color", Mabel tries to show Grunkle Stan a rainbow by reflecting one from the waterfall into the window of his office with a mirror. The results...were a bit more than what she was expecting.-->"Nothing brightens a dark room like light from a window! Time to open the wind- '''OH NO!!! WHY?!? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!?!'''"* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':** In "It's About Time", Twilight Sparkle is scanning the skies with a telescope. She accidentally looks directly into the sun and is blinded in one eye. She has to wear an eye-patch for the rest of the episode so her eye can heal.** In "Inspiration Manifestation", Rarity turns the streets of Ponyville to gold. The sun reflects off it and blinds several citizens.* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' episode "Now You Smurf 'Em, Now You Don't", Papa Smurf used light shone through a magnifying lens into a magic crystal ball to blind the trolls digging tunnels underneath the Smurf Village to capture the Smurfs.* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': In [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS3E01TheHolocronsOfFate "The Holocrons of Fate"]], the holocron fusion unleashes a brilliant white light that blinds everyone [[spoiler:except Kanan, who, ironically enough, [[ByTheEyesOfTheBlind has his vision temporarily restored]] (albeit crudely) by the same light.]]* Used in ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollz}}'' when ogres are sensitive to light. Good thing Sapphire's spell misfired earlier and made her feet glow.* On ''WesternAnimation/PeterRabbit'', in "Flooded Burrow," Peter Rabbit's mother uses this to get rid of the owl Old Brown.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]* UsefulNotes/WorldWarI / UsefulNotes/WorldWarII: Attacking out of the sun was a popular tactic for both fighters and dive-bombers.* During the age while armies still utilized campfires at night, it was not uncommon for those to be used as a means of deception. Merely looking at a light source at night temporarily ruins the eye's low light adjustments, meaning that while looking at such a campfire (or for that matter any other light source at night), it was impossible to actually see the people (if any) that existed around it; only the light source would be visible. Armies got pretty creative with this back in the day, from setting up false camps (the enemy won't know there's no one by the fire until it's too late), to lighting a minimal number of fires to hide their number (sometimes going as far as just one big fire; good luck guessing how many people are sharing it), to ordering the camp to make several times its number in flames. A cunning general may even combine the various methods, essentially rendering the enemy's attempts to scout his position at night futile or downright counterproductive. Even in warfare, there are [[SubvertedTrope uses for fire]] [[KillItWithFire other than killing]].* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Defence_Light One of the armored vehicles]] used in the Normandy landings in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII was essentially an outdated tank with the gun replaced with a very high intensity lamp, entirely encased in the turret save for a narrow vertical slit. The turret would pan back and forth, perodically painting the German defenses with blinding light to make it impossible for them to see the troops on the beaches. They also had various filters they could put onto the light while in action, so as to make it harder to determine how far away the vehicle was if you wanted to [[{{Pun}} put its lights out]]. Unfortunately the weapon was so secret its use was minimal, as few officers were aware of its capabilities.* In UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, the British "hid" the Suez Canal with an array of spotlights and shifting reflectors intended to dazzle the eyes of bomber pilots. When they tested it by having two British planes fly into the area, they found the effect disoriented the pilots so much that both planes nearly crashed -- just from flashing lights. Best part? This was just ''one'' stunt thought up by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_Maskelyne Jasper Maskelyne]], [[StageMagician War Magician]]. Eventually, a chain of twenty-one searchlights covered the Suez Canal for its entire length. When illuminated, they created a curtain of swirling light over more than a hundred miles of Egyptian sky. In the following months enemy aircraft made a number of attempts to penetrate the curtain, and failed, and the canal remained open to Allied shipping throughout the war.** Or so he claimed in his biography -- recent research has shown the dazzle weapon was never actually built except as a prototype.* The LED Incapacitator, a rather recent non-lethal weapon which works by creating a bright pulsing light with continuously changing colours to dazzle and disorient an opponent when violence is not permitted. Readers of ''[[Literature/TheCorneliusChronicles The Final Programme]]'' may find this strangely familiar.* A more mundane example: pilots who fly at night have to avoid any bright lights for upwards of 20 or 30 minutes before a flight in order to maintain their night vision. Their cockpit lights are run at the lowest setting that lets them see their instruments, because any bright light will force them to start all over again trying to readjust to the darkness of night. As a result, airports will often actually be ''much'' more dimly lit than some folks might expect, as the last thing they want to do is to blind a pilot who is trying to take off or land.** Similar to the above, go out some night to visit a group of stargazers out doing their thing, and you will quickly learn that they do ''not'' like it when folks use any bright or white light near where they are stargazing. Stars are bright, but they are not ''that'' bright compared to closer light sources on Earth. The use of red-filtered light is common as it does not have the same negative effect on human night vision.[[note]]Red light is not typically used for illumination in airplane cockpits, however, because under a red light, you wouldn't be able to see any of the red warning indicators in the cockpit.[[/note]]*** Several people have gotten arrested for shining their bright green laser pointers into the nighttime sky and dazzling or temporarily blinding pilots overhead. Particularly if the plane is taking off or landing. There was serious talk of outright banning the sale of laser pointers in Britain after someone used the same trick to make an oncoming car swerve off the road and hit a tree, and in Spain using them against pilots or drivers supposes a fine of up to €600,000.** Laser pointers can even cause permanent retinal damage.* [[UsefulNotes/TheLawsAndCustomsOfWar The Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons, Protocol IV of the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons]], was issued by the United Nations on 13 October 1995. It came into force on 30 July 1998. This bans weapons that cause permanent blindness. Blinding as an incidental or collateral effect of the legitimate military employment of laser systems, including laser systems used against optical equipment, is not covered by the prohibition of this Protocol. It also defines blindness as an irreversible and uncorrectable loss of vision which is seriously disabling with no prospect of recovery. Serious disability is equivalent to visual acuity of less than 20/200 Snellen measured using both eyes. So "minor" permanent damage is not covered. Temporary damage is also not covered.* It is common for gun owners to use them with a [[GunAccessories flashlight attachment]], with output usually above 200 lumens. Their utility is twofold - they help with target identification in low light, and when you turn the light on in the target's face at close range, it's hard-pressed to accurately return fire. Even the handheld models, if they surpass the 200 lumen minimum (and even as far back as 2011, even ones powered by at least two AA batteries can do it), can be used for self-defense in places where firearms and knives are more restricted.* Magnesium burns easily and very, ''very'' [[LightIsNotGood bright white]], producing ultraviolet light as well. It can permanently damage the retinas; working with pure magnesium powder requires safety glasses with welder protection.* It is now believed by many that the so-called "heat ray" used by Archimedes to help defend Syracuse from the Romans in the 3rd century BC would not work to set fire to ships using parabolic mirrors. Instead, it is believed that Archimedes used the mirrors to blind the Romans, making them unable to fight effectively.* This is the reason that, in most jurisdictions, you are forbidden from driving with your high beams/brights on when there is oncoming traffic (i.e. if you are in a lane going one way and there are cars in the lane next to you going the other way). If you have your high beams on, the light could dazzle other drivers and cause an accident.[[/folder]]